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Week 17

Judges 1:1-10:18

Vs 19-33: “they failed to drive out…” Over and over again it says the tribes “failed to drive out” the people living in the lands-they were ordered by God to drive them out and not make any kind of covenant with them. Disobedience=punishment!!

Judges 2:3 “So now declare that I will no longer drive out the people living in your land. They will be thorns in your sides, and their god’s will be a constant temptation to you.” PUNISHMENT FOR DISOBEDIENCE!

Vs 10: “After that generation dies, another generation grew up who did not acknowledge the Lord or remember the mighty things he had done for Israel.” Let that not be in my family, Lord! Help us to instill a respect, love and fire for You, in our children, that will reach every generation of our family until You return.

Judges 3:1-4 Vs 4: “These people were left to test the Israelites-to see whether they would obey the commands the Lord had given to their ancestors through Moses.” Sometimes God allows things to come into my life, or remain in my life, because there is something I need to learn (vs 2 “He did this to teach warfare to generations of Israelites who had no experience in battle.”) or to test my faith. Look for those things that are left behind…seek the lesson in the leftovers!! “Even in times of discipline and testing, God is present with His people. (Ps 23:4,5)” -Women’s Study Bible

Judges 4:4 Deborah-honestly she confuses me a bit with my upbringing…I was taught women are NOT to be in authority over men…but she clearly was!

Vs 9: “Very well,” she replied, “I will go with you. But you will receive no honor in this venture, for the Lord’s victory over Sisera will be at the hands of a woman.” Don’t tell me God can’t use a woman!!

Vs 14b: “…for the Lord is marching ahead of you.” YES!!!

Vs 21: “But when Sisera fell asleep from exhaustion, Jael quietly crept up to him with a hammer and a tent peg in her hand. Then she drove the tent peg through his temple and into the ground, and so he died.” Again…a woman!! This is like a God uses us women, also chapter!!!

Judges 6:1 “The Israelites did evil in the Lord’s sight. So the Lord handed them over…” So sad…an overwhelming theme of Judges.

Vs 11-12: “Then the angel of the Lord came and sat beneath the great tree at Ophrah, which belonged to Joseph of the clan of Abiezer. Gideon son of Joash was threshing wheat at the bottom of a winepress to hide the grain from the Midianites. The angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, ‘Mighty hero, the Lord is with you!'” I love this!! He was hiding! He was threshing in secret because he was afraid but the angel of the Lord called him “mighty hero”! I love that God sees us, not as we see ourselves or even as others see us, but through eyes of righteousness. He sees us as we can be with Him…not as we have been!

Vs 16: “I will be with you…”

Judges 7:1 Jerub-baal: Gideon

Vs 2-7: God whittled the 32,000 warriors down to just 300. He knew that if the Israelites defeated the Midianites with 32,000 they would credit their numbers and power for the victory rather than God.

Vs 22: “When the 300 Israelites blew their rams’ horns, the Lord caused the warriors in the camp to fight against each other with their swords. Those who were not killed fled to places as far away as Beth-shittah near Zererah and to the border of Abel-meholah near Tabbath.” GOD WILL FIGHT FOR ME!!!

Judges 8:34 “They forgot the Lord their God, who had rescued them from all their enemies surrounding them.”

Judges 9:5 Abimelech had all 70 of his half-brothers killed (except Jotham, the youngest, who escaped)…to be so power-hungry that you’d kill off your entire family??? So sad!

Judges 10:6 “Again the Israelites did evil in the Lord’s sight.” Why don’t they learn?? Why don’t I?? How many times could it have been said that “again Amber did evil in the Lord’s sight”??!! 6b: “They abandoned the Lord and no longer served him at all.” I WAS SO THERE!! This could’ve easily described me before God reached down and really took hold of my life.

Luke 21:29-24:53

Lk 22:13 “…and found everything just as Jesus had said…” EVERYTHING ALWAYS HAPPENS AS JESUS SAYS IT WILL!!

Vs 21: (Jesus speaking) “But here at this table, sitting among us as a friend, is the man who will betray me.” How heartbreaking! To be so utterly betrayed by a friend!

Vs 40: “There he told them, ‘Pray that you will not give into temptation.” PRAY!! Why do we pray? To overcome temptation!

Vs 42b: “…Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” Help me to remember this, Lord…to always seek Your will and not my own way!

Vs 51: “But Jesus said, ‘No more of this.’ And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.” One touch..not one we tend to focus on but still…JUST ONE TOUCH!

Vs 54-62: Peter denies Christ-how many times have I done the same? How many times have I denied Christ with my action, if not my words??

Lk 23:34 “Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing…”

Vs 46: “Then Jesus shouted, ‘Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!’ And with those words he breathed his last.” Jesus gave up His life…He CHOSE to die for me!

Lk 24:27 “Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.” My first thought was oh how amazing to have Jesus explain the Scriptures to you…but we can have that!! At any time we can turn to God and His Spirit will teach us what we need to learn. How amazing is that??!! I’ve always loved the song “On the Road to Emmaus” by the Steeles. https://youtu.be/R1lHbVNHXn8

Vs 38: “Why are you frightened?” he asked. “Why are your hearts filled with doubt?”

Vs 45: “Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.” Open our minds, Lord, that we may truly understand Your Word!!

Vs 47b: “There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.” ALL!! Some? A few? NO!! ALL!!!

Psalms 90:1-100:5

Ps 90:14a “Satisfy us each morning with your unfailing love…” I long for this daily, Lord!

Ps 91:14 “The Lord says, ‘I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name.'” !!!

Ps 92:2 “It is good to proclaim your unfailing love in the morning, your faithfulness in the evening…” I need to be faithful to praise God for His faithfulness and unfailing love.

Vs 14: “Even in old age they will still produce fruit; they will remain vital and green.” It is never too late to be used by God! Our usefulness is not based on us (age, ability…), it’s based on Him!

Ps 94:7 “The Lord isn’t looking,” they say, “and besides, the God of Israel doesn’t care.” Isn’t this so like our world right now?? ‘There is no God and if there is He doesn’t care!’ This seems to be the common voice these days!

Proverbs 13:24-14:12

Prov 14:1 “A wise woman builds her home, but a foolish woman tears it down with her own hands.” Oh have I been that foolish woman far too often in the past!! So thankful that God rescued my family from total destruction! Lord, help us all to be wise women… to build up our families in Your wisdom and Your way. Father I pray that where I’ve allowed destruction and damage in the past, You would just reclaim those areas and build them up in Your strength! Renovate our homes, Lord, to reflect You in each and every way!